My Bulgarian Babas
For my whole life, I've referred to my dad's mother not as “Grandma,” but as “Baba” — a term meaning “grandmother” (or “old woman”)...
Visiting Rila Monastery in Bulgaria
As the realization dawned on me that the bus I would be sitting on for 3+ hours had no air conditioning and was equipped...
Is Bulgaria Beautiful? Heck Yes, It Is
I'll admit it: I basically knew nothing about Bulgaria before my first trip to Eastern Europe. All I knew was that it had a...
A Tale of Two Capitals: Bucharest and Sofia
Sometimes while traveling, you visit a city that is so beautiful, so charming, or so alive with culture and atmosphere that you can't help...
August: The Best Time to Be in Edinburgh?
Ask just about anyone who's ever been to Edinburgh, Scotland what they think of the city, and you will probably get a resounding “I...
London 2012: My Olympics Experience
If you had asked me a year ago what I thought my first trip to London would consist of, I probably would have answered...
Traveling in Romania (and Why You Should Go Right Now)
Most people don't necessarily equate “Romania” with “cool travel destination.” This Eastern European country between Hungary and Bulgaria isn't usually a place people have...
Beyond Dracula: Reasons to Visit Brasov, Romania
The small city of Brasov may not be well-known around the world. In fact, I'm sure many of you have never even heard of...
When the Cows Come Home
“… until the cows come home.” It's probably a phrase that you've heard used before. Not often, but I'm sure you've heard it. The...
5 Things to Love About Sighisoara, Romania
Where I come from, places like Sighisoara just simply do not exist. Ancient churches, a walled town center, thousands of years of history… you...
Village Scenes: Life in Rural Romania
“It's like stepping back in time.” How often have you heard this phrase? Probably plenty. But how often has is actually been true? Well, in...
Merry Cemetery: A Different Way to Look at Death
When I say “old cemetery,” what do you picture? Crumbling tombstones? Grand old mausoleums? Overgrown shrubbery? Chances are, whatever you picture is fairly dark; morose;...
Eger and the Valley of the Beautiful Women
Just two hours north of Budapest lies a small city that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the Hungarian capital. A...
Soaking at the Szechenyi Baths
Picture this: Baroque-style baths, filled with thermally-heated water, that are outdoors and open year-round. If you're a Midwesterner like me (or just anyone not...
Packing List: What to Pack for Backpacking Around Europe
For two consecutive summers, I backpacked around Europe. I stayed in hostels, traveled by train and bus, and yes, carried everything I had with...
Is Going to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland Worth It? Here’s What You Need to Know
It was like being in some sort of late-night-food-induced dream. You know, the kind where you're walking on the ceiling and people are climbing...
Fire and Ice in Iceland
After my unexpected near-death experience on a snow-covered Icelandic mountain, I really didn't know what to expect from the second half of the “Essential...
